55semireef
Moved On
Well they are difficult to keep. But out of the anemones they are among the easiest. In fact, SVXH6 is only adding on to my point with his statements.
Tough little Haddoni
- Thread starter slimreb
- Start date
slimreb
New member
Oh to answer svxh6 question the tank has been setup and running for the past 2 months now. I know it is not the standard wait period most people say to go by but everything is going well.
I have also had a good amount of live rock and sand from TBS that was added to the tank that I believe is helping to keep everything going well. As a matter of fact all the rock that was inside the tank before was just plain ol' brown rock when I placed it back into the tank and it is already being coated with coralline.
I have also had a good amount of live rock and sand from TBS that was added to the tank that I believe is helping to keep everything going well. As a matter of fact all the rock that was inside the tank before was just plain ol' brown rock when I placed it back into the tank and it is already being coated with coralline.
55semireef
Moved On
I didn't mean to have any tone. In fact, I don't know how you can pick up a tone in messaging. Its so subtle. But thats behind us now.
slimreb, got any pics?
slimreb
New member
I do not have any pics just yet. I have not been able to borrow a digital camera from some one. Once I can get ahold of one I will take some pics and post them up.
I was sort of thinking about trying to make an A. Percula colony in my tank. I have a female and male pair right now but was thinking to add two or three more A. Percula (that are really small) to form a colony. Right now there is nothing hosting the Ritteri and I do not trust having different type of clownfish in the tank. Though I do not want the Ritteri to not have something hosting in it. Plus I have seen pictures of people having more than two of the same type of clowns in the same tank and thing it looks really cool. I can just imagine how enjoyable and educating it would be to see how a colony would interact with one another.
I was sort of thinking about trying to make an A. Percula colony in my tank. I have a female and male pair right now but was thinking to add two or three more A. Percula (that are really small) to form a colony. Right now there is nothing hosting the Ritteri and I do not trust having different type of clownfish in the tank. Though I do not want the Ritteri to not have something hosting in it. Plus I have seen pictures of people having more than two of the same type of clowns in the same tank and thing it looks really cool. I can just imagine how enjoyable and educating it would be to see how a colony would interact with one another.
55semireef
Moved On
You will not be able to get a perc colony. There will be tons of aggression from the pair you already have. if you were to get another female, the female you already have would fight to the death basically. Sorry.
colby
In Memoriam
Actually I think you stand a great chance of gettting a colony of percs going in your tank, ESPECIALLY since you have a large host anemone free....
I would recommend getting at least 3 little guys and adding them all at the same time, I have a colony of mixed perc/Ocellaris going in my tank and it is really fascinating...
Great stroy by the way and thanks for sharing...
Also, congratulations on keeping a difficult to keep invert alive and happy...
Colby
I would recommend getting at least 3 little guys and adding them all at the same time, I have a colony of mixed perc/Ocellaris going in my tank and it is really fascinating...
Great stroy by the way and thanks for sharing...
Also, congratulations on keeping a difficult to keep invert alive and happy...
Colby
55semireef
Moved On
From what I have read and what I have heard of others, three or more percs will fight. There will be a female, a smaller male and the rest immature juvis.
colby
In Memoriam
Yes the little ones will be juvies. If you do it the right way however they will not "fight." Obviously there will be some of the common heirarchal bickering, but not all out fighting. In order to achieve this family scenario all one has to do is think like a fish and recreate nature as best as possible...
For example, why do clownfish fight?
Well they fight for dominance, the reason being the dominant fish gets the food and shelter. In the wild you will find family units of clownfish living in either very large anemones or a carpet of anemones. With plenty of living space available there is not much competition between the breeding pair and the juvies, therefore they are permitted to stay.
"Simply" do your best to recreate this in the aquarium. In slimrebs case it should work quite well. He has a relatively large tank with two large host anemones....plenty of real estate for a family of percs (granted Ocellaris may be a better choice...) The key here will be to introduce atleast three little guys to assure that the agression will be evenly spread out, you see the female perc will not attack anyone. She has no reason to, her position is threatened only by the male who she already has asserted her dominance over. The male on the other hand is going to feel the pressure and he will spend the first few days asserting himself over the newcomers. However they will quickly aquiesce and all will shortly fall into place. Then, the female will make the male quiver, the male the largest juvie and on down the line....
So in short to make this scenario work out it is important to do three things:
1. Provide enough real estate....
2. Provide plenty of food....
3. Make sure you have enough individuals to spread the agression...
Essentially reduce competition and keep a careful watch and all will be good, of course personalities of fish differ and ocassionally a fish will be rejected from the society, but in the end you should come away with a happy family of clowns....
Best of luck...
Colby
For example, why do clownfish fight?
Well they fight for dominance, the reason being the dominant fish gets the food and shelter. In the wild you will find family units of clownfish living in either very large anemones or a carpet of anemones. With plenty of living space available there is not much competition between the breeding pair and the juvies, therefore they are permitted to stay.
"Simply" do your best to recreate this in the aquarium. In slimrebs case it should work quite well. He has a relatively large tank with two large host anemones....plenty of real estate for a family of percs (granted Ocellaris may be a better choice...) The key here will be to introduce atleast three little guys to assure that the agression will be evenly spread out, you see the female perc will not attack anyone. She has no reason to, her position is threatened only by the male who she already has asserted her dominance over. The male on the other hand is going to feel the pressure and he will spend the first few days asserting himself over the newcomers. However they will quickly aquiesce and all will shortly fall into place. Then, the female will make the male quiver, the male the largest juvie and on down the line....
So in short to make this scenario work out it is important to do three things:
1. Provide enough real estate....
2. Provide plenty of food....
3. Make sure you have enough individuals to spread the agression...
Essentially reduce competition and keep a careful watch and all will be good, of course personalities of fish differ and ocassionally a fish will be rejected from the society, but in the end you should come away with a happy family of clowns....
Best of luck...
Colby
55semireef
Moved On
That is for expert only. Thats great advice but not many on this board could handle that senario. By all means slimreb, I am not saying you couldn't handle it but its risky. Its your call not mine.
colby
In Memoriam
Well I would by no means call myself an expert and I have sucessfully re-created this scenario several times. The key is just good observation, and anyone can have that. Also, IMO anyone who can keep a healthy haddons AND (especially...) a healthy Ritteri could be considered if not an expert atleast very advanced....
Also, with keeping fish experitise comes with experience, and there is no better way to get experience than by trying (please don't think I am implying something ridiculous like "oh let me see if I can cram this shark into a ten gallon" type of experience...I mean trial and experience based on logic and previous experience of others...).
I do believe that anyone can re-create this situation if they simply keep in mind the three things I listed....
Does anyone else here have a family of clowns they would care to show pictures of?
BTW...Have you ever noticed how clownfish in public aquariums are almost invariably ALWAYS kept in groups yet they still breed like mad?
Colby
Also, with keeping fish experitise comes with experience, and there is no better way to get experience than by trying (please don't think I am implying something ridiculous like "oh let me see if I can cram this shark into a ten gallon" type of experience...I mean trial and experience based on logic and previous experience of others...).
I do believe that anyone can re-create this situation if they simply keep in mind the three things I listed....
Does anyone else here have a family of clowns they would care to show pictures of?
BTW...Have you ever noticed how clownfish in public aquariums are almost invariably ALWAYS kept in groups yet they still breed like mad?
Colby
slimreb
New member
Colby thanks for the information. I have heard pretty much the same thing from other people on how to start a colony. I was looking at getting three or four rather small A. Percula as to have a better chance they have not matured to either male or female.
I am not claiming myself to be an expert as I know I still have a lot more to learn with this hobby. Though I feel I am advanced enough to try this and would be very watchful of the tank while doing this. I was also thinking of putting a strawberry crate inside the tank with a small hole were the juviniles could get into but not the matured clowns. This will give them some shelter were they can be totally safe if things go wrong.
I have used that same tactic before when getting a Mature Maroon to except a mate. The Maroon I had was a very aggressive fish and would really tear the other maroon apart. I was told about this method and it worked. This allowed the new Maroon to have shelter but still be part of the tank and thus in the eye of the other Maroon.
I am also happy to report that after two weeks for the carpet and one week for the Ritteri they are all doing great. Both are eating very well and have nice tightly closed mouths. I have been feeding them every other day a small to medium size portion of shrimp, krill, or scallops. I will also be getting some silcon and silversides as my carpet loved that combo which I used all the time before the storm.
I am not claiming myself to be an expert as I know I still have a lot more to learn with this hobby. Though I feel I am advanced enough to try this and would be very watchful of the tank while doing this. I was also thinking of putting a strawberry crate inside the tank with a small hole were the juviniles could get into but not the matured clowns. This will give them some shelter were they can be totally safe if things go wrong.
I have used that same tactic before when getting a Mature Maroon to except a mate. The Maroon I had was a very aggressive fish and would really tear the other maroon apart. I was told about this method and it worked. This allowed the new Maroon to have shelter but still be part of the tank and thus in the eye of the other Maroon.
I am also happy to report that after two weeks for the carpet and one week for the Ritteri they are all doing great. Both are eating very well and have nice tightly closed mouths. I have been feeding them every other day a small to medium size portion of shrimp, krill, or scallops. I will also be getting some silcon and silversides as my carpet loved that combo which I used all the time before the storm.
Flighty
Premium Member
If you haven't added the new clowns yet I would recommend considering adding a handful of tiny skunks rather than percs or ocellaris. They seem to be a bit more open to the family group tank and the difference in shape and color might lessen the aggression that the existing pair have for the new arrivals. Small skunks can disappear into a ritteri if threatened. (It also looks nifty as heck if it works 
)
Just make sure you do a QT of at least a month to ensure you don't introduce a clown specific pathogen. Also, have a backup plan, because no matter what everyone here says, your older clowns might not tolerate new clowns of any type or age in their tank.
)Just make sure you do a QT of at least a month to ensure you don't introduce a clown specific pathogen. Also, have a backup plan, because no matter what everyone here says, your older clowns might not tolerate new clowns of any type or age in their tank.
slimreb
New member
Thanks for the information Flighty. I was aware that my existing pair might not accept any more clowns into their tank (and it is indeed theirs now). Though I am hoping they are still like they used to be and allow more clowns.
I have never thought to use skunk clowns before. Though I do like the pink skunks. I am curious as to how that would work though. Would the skunks stay as juviniles or would they become Female/Male?
The only draw back to this is the Carpet is directly below the Ritteri. There is space between them but not a whole lot. I am just glad that there has not been any chemical warfare between the two anemones seeing as how close they are to each other.
Oh and I love the pic of your Ritteri for your avatar. Truly amazing anemone.
I have never thought to use skunk clowns before. Though I do like the pink skunks. I am curious as to how that would work though. Would the skunks stay as juviniles or would they become Female/Male?
The only draw back to this is the Carpet is directly below the Ritteri. There is space between them but not a whole lot. I am just glad that there has not been any chemical warfare between the two anemones seeing as how close they are to each other.
Oh and I love the pic of your Ritteri for your avatar. Truly amazing anemone.
BonsaiNut
Premium Member
BTW - in the tropics where carpet anemones occur naturally, they are often (in some cases monthly) completely exposed to the air during low tide. During some of these times they get rained on 
So they have to be tough in some ways to survive the abuse. Unfortunately, they can survive tropical rain showers for short periods, but they can not necessarily survive extended periods of low light, low water flow, dirty water, and rapid pH swings.
So they have to be tough in some ways to survive the abuse. Unfortunately, they can survive tropical rain showers for short periods, but they can not necessarily survive extended periods of low light, low water flow, dirty water, and rapid pH swings.
55semireef
Moved On
Wow BonsaiNut. That was very interesting info. I always love to see what you have to say.
That would be very interesting to see what would happen with your skunls. I say go for it.
That would be very interesting to see what would happen with your skunls. I say go for it.
Flighty
Premium Member
I don't think any of us can predict how it will work out in your tank, but my best guess is that if they do accept them as a group, they will stay juvis. If they ignore them the skunks could form a peaceful family with their own male and female. Unfortunately, I think the most likely scenario would be that the percs won't be happy and will be very aggressive about the newcomers. That is one reason I think a larger number of skunks would be a better bet- spread out the anger and hope things settle down eventually. That isn't to say that I think any of the three scenarios are impossible.
Again, I can't stress the importance of QT enough. If you put sick clowns or even just stressed from the store and shipping in they are doomed because the pair of percs will recognise them as week targets.
I should add for anyone else reading this, the only reason I think there is a reasonable chance of success is the large amount of natural host anemone territory. The clowns look at the anemones as something they need to defend from anemone eaters and might accept a family to help protect them.
One last slightly pessimistic ramble- you need to be prepared for the possibility that the ritteri might not survive. They are known to look really good for several months and then nosedive from things going on inside which aren't easy to see. Taking an anemone out for whatever reason would likely change the whole tank dynamic.
Again, I can't stress the importance of QT enough. If you put sick clowns or even just stressed from the store and shipping in they are doomed because the pair of percs will recognise them as week targets.
I should add for anyone else reading this, the only reason I think there is a reasonable chance of success is the large amount of natural host anemone territory. The clowns look at the anemones as something they need to defend from anemone eaters and might accept a family to help protect them.
One last slightly pessimistic ramble- you need to be prepared for the possibility that the ritteri might not survive. They are known to look really good for several months and then nosedive from things going on inside which aren't easy to see. Taking an anemone out for whatever reason would likely change the whole tank dynamic.
55semireef
Moved On
Yes I would like to see the Ritteri to see what type of condition its in.
